Legendary Indy mechanic/engineer Jim Travers dies at 95

ABOVE: Jim Travers (left), chief mechanic for Indianapolis 500 winner Bill Vukovich in 1953-'54, with Bob Gates, writer of a book on Vukovich, in 2008 (IMS photo).

Jim Travers, the brains behind Bill Vukovich's incredible run at Indianapolis who also figured in Roger Penske's initial victory at the Speedway, died earlier this week at the age of 95.

A mechanic, engine-builder and self-taught engineer, Travers and pal Frank Coon formed a legendary partnership known as the "Whiz Kids" that racked up major successes at Indianapolis, in sports cars, sprinters and even Pikes Peak through the 1950s-'60s-'70s.

Working on midgets with Coon for owner Howard Keck in the late 1940s, they first tried the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1948 with Jimmy Jackson for two years and then Mauri Rose finished third for them in 1950 before retiring after the 1951 classic when a wheel broke and he flipped.

Keck, who founded the Superior Oil Company, gave Travers the go-ahead to build a new car and find a new driver.

"Jim told Mr. Keck they needed to get my dad because whenever he got the lead in a midget race he went faster," recalled Bill Vukovich Jr. of his famous father being hired by the Whiz Kids. "I guess you could say they made a pretty good team."

Frank Kurtis built the rear-drive car to Travers' specs and Vuky dubbed it a roadster and for the next decade that style was copied endlessly at IMS.

In 1952, Vukovich led 150 laps and had lapped everyone but second place Troy Ruttman when his steering failed and he hit the Turn 3 wall nine laps from the checkered flag.

In 1953, he won the pole with a new track record and led 195 of the 200 laps to give the Fuel Injection Special its initial Indy triumph.

In 1954, Vuky charged from 19th to first, led 90 laps and beat Jimmy Bryan and Jack McGrath to make it two in a row (LEFT).

Travers and Coon started building a new, lighter "Streamliner" for 1955 but it couldn't be finished in time so Vukovich took a ride with Lindsey Hopkins, who immediately hired the Whiz Kids to take care of the car.

Out in front for 50 of the first 57 laps, Vuky lost his life in a crash on the backstretch and a streak that was unparalleled in IMS history was over.

So the Whiz Kids opened an engine shop known as Traco and soon were winning the L.A. Times Grand Prix with Chick Daigh, Pikes Peak with Bobby Unser, the USAC sprint car title with Roger McCluskey and Daytona with Mark Donohue.

But their biggest triumph came in 1972 when Donohue scored Penske's first Indy win in an Offenhauser-powered McLaren.

Living in Utah, Travers was still working daily in his machine shop and made his last visit to Indianapolis in 2008.